Paying for "free things" is an unfortunate habit in many restaurants in The Czech Republic, but it's still practiced today. Here's how it works, you walk into a restaurant, a small band is playing, the waiter puts a basket of bread on the table, followed by a tray of condiments. Itr all sounds good doesn't it? Well wait until you get the bill. On top of the food & drink, it's not uncommon to find you've been charged extra (a LOT extra) for: the bread, the band (even if you got there late and the band was packing up), a "late session" or "Weekend" surcharge and even the tray of condiments (no seriously!). SO never assume ANYTHING is free, check the menu for extra charges and ALWAYS talk to your waiter. If you don't want to pay for a basket of bread or tomato sauce, just say "No thanks". One final tip. Be considerate and learn some basic Czech.

Sadly, all over Prague.

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends

You'll have an entirely different experience (and could save some money) if you learn some Czech before going. The Czechs are friendly, but are also wary and stand-offish and many have a particular dislike of English, American & German tourists. * Why? Well the English have an unfortunate reputation for boozy stag & hen parties, Americans are regarded as loud, culturally ignorant and "taking over" their city and the poor Germans get a bad rap due to their shared history and the fact that some (only some) have a nasty habit of insisting on speaking German to Czechs. (Many Czechs speak perfect German, but often don't like to.) Even if you merely learn to say hello, goodbye, thank-you and please, your experience of Prague will be profoundly different. These simple courtesies (and the Czechs are BIG on manners) will often save you money, get you better service and could even get you a table in a restaurant which would normally be 'full'. You'll also engage more with the people of Prague, who are the true cultural treasures of my favourite city on the planet. So how do I learn? If you don't want to go to lessons, at the very least buy the "Rough Guide Czech Phrase Book" it was the absolute best thing I bought before heading to Prague. * (They love, love, LOVE the Irish though, whom they see as kindred spirits: a proud intellectual history, home of novelists and playwrights and a struggling people who shook off the chains of oppression & tyranny to become a republic)

all over Prague

I agreeI disagree

1.  
2. Send to friends